Lieutenant Colonel Ryan O. Martin enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1996. After recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he completed Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. He then attended basic avionics training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, followed by additional avionics schooling at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina. In November 1997, he reported to his first operational squadron, Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 (VMGR-352), at MCAS El Toro, California, as an avionics technician. He served in various billets within the organizational maintenance department and later as an avionics instructor.
During his instructor tour at NAS Pensacola, LtCol Martin was accepted into the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program and commissioned as a Marine Corps officer in May 2007 through the University of Oklahoma Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.
As a Marine Officer, his operational assignments included Special Projects Officer with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 11 Reinforced (Rein); Material Control Officer, Maintenance Material Control Officer, Assistant Aviation Maintenance Officer, and Detachment Maintenance Officer with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM-163) (Rein); Assistant Aviation Maintenance Officer with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM-163); and Operations Officer with MALS-16.
His supporting establishment tours included Detachment Commanding Officer/Marine Officer-in-Charge at Field Training Detachment 19, 372nd Training Squadron; Training Operations Officer, Center for Naval Aviation Training Detachment, Eglin Air Force Base; and Aviation Maintenance Inspection Team Officer with Commander, Naval Air Forces.
At Headquarters Marine Corps, he served as Deputy Branch Head for Behavioral Programs and Branch Head for Semper Fitness Programs at Marine and Family Programs Division, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. His last assignment was with Deputy Commandant for Aviation, where he served as the Occupational Field Manager and Aviation Sustainment Branch Action Officer.
LtCol Martin assumes command today, having been an alternate on the Fiscal Year 2024 Top-Level School Alternate Results List. He is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Arts degree in Leadership Studies from Marshall University.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (two awards).
He is married to former Marine, Sharelle Martin, and they have three children.